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Soyka (Russian: Сойка) is a Russian wide-range body-wearable
intercept receiver that was used to track down clandestine
radio stations and to intercept communication between agents.
It was developed in the USSR and was
used during the Cold War by the countries of the Warsaw Pact.
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Soyka consisted of a main unit and several accessories and
plug-in units, packed together in a small suitcase.
The image on the right shows the main unit as it was used
by the East-German intelligence service (Ministerium für
Staatssicherheit, Stasi)
in the former DDR, hence the German labels covering the
Russian texts.
The shape of the main unit is curved, to allow the receiver to
be hidden under the operator's clothing. All connections are
at the top panel.
Frequency plug-in and adjustement is also at the top
(more about plug-in units below).
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Also on the top panel are the antenna sockets: one for a wire
antenna and one for a loop antenna. The latter has been modified
by the Stasi for use with (western) BNC connectors. A suitable
loop antenna, that can be hidden under
the clothing, is also supplied with the set.
The other sockets are for power (9В),
recorder (МАГ.),
and headphones (ТЛФ).
The receiving frequency can be set by adjusting a
rigged ring
around the frequency plug-in unit, whilst a separate
recessed fine tuning knob
is available to the right of it.
A small light can be turned on in
order to read the frequency scale in the dark.
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The complete set is packed into a small unobtrusive cheap-looking
suitcase, complete with all accessories, plug-in units and
batteries. The case measures just 46 x 30 x 14 cm and is made of
green and yellow leather. At the time it could be used to travel
around inconspiciously.
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The image on the right shows a typical Soyka configuration
packed in the original suitcase. It contains several 'slots'
in which a rigid boards with canvas pockets are located.
At the far right is the leather belt,
used for carrying the
Soyka around the waist, and the Power Supply Unit.
Inside the case are several brown canvas pockets containing the
accessories and plug-in units. The actual Soyka unit itself is
packed in yet another canvast pocket and is not visible in the
image as it is 'face down' in the rearmost slot.
A special small pocket
is supplied to allow three spare plug-in
units to be hidden under the clothing whilst operating the
receiver.
Various antennas, such as a loop antenna and a simple wire antenna,
are supplied for a variety of applications.
The loop antenna, hidden in green cloth, can be hidden under the
cloting as well.
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Soyka was suitable for a wide frequency range (0-30 MHz),
divided over several bands. For each band, a separate plug-in
coil is available. Two special coils are supplied for
non-selective wide-band operation (see below). The following plug-in units
were available:
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- 0.7-1.1 MHz
- 1.1-1.7 MHz
- 1.7-2.6 MHz
- 2.6-4 MHz
- 4-6 MHz
- 6-9 MHz
- 9-13 MHz
- 13-18 MHz
- 18-24 MHz
- 24-30 MHz
- 3-15 MHz*
- 1-30 MHz*
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All plug-in units have the same physical
size. They consist of a metal cylinder of approx. 42 mm,
with a diameter of 21 mm. The frequency scale is at the top, whilst
the contacts are at the bottom.
Inside a plug-in unit is a tuned circuit, consisting of a series
of capacitors and coils.
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The plug-in is held in place by a lock that is operated
with a small handle at its side.
Please note that the
plug-in can only be removed when
the frequency dial is
in a certain position.
A plug-in unit can easily be opened by removing the rigged
bolt at the top.The frequency scale then comes off and the
unit can be taken out of its protective metal cylinder.
The image on the right shows the interior of plug-in unit #1.
It can be adjusted by inserting the tuned circuit inside
a special cylinder with 4 holes.
This also requires the Soyka main unit itself to be opened.
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*) The
last two plug-in units
(XI and XII, or 11 and 12) are special.
They can be used to convert the receiver into a wide-band
non-selective receiver, ideal for picking up transmitters operating
on unknown frequencies in the immediate vicinity.
This would also work with transmitters that use Frequency Hopping (FH).
As a result, the receiver loses its sensitivity, which is a desired
side-effect, as broadcasting stations would otherwise interfere with
the reception of the local signal.
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The Soyka main unit is powered by a 9V source, which should be
connected to the leftmost connector on the top panel (9В).
It can be powered by a variety of sources, all of which are
included with the unit. The first possibility is the
PSU
that is supplied with the kit. The same PSU is also used to
charge the NiCd batteries (see below).
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For sustained portable use, the unit can best be powered
by two 4.5V flat batteries. A special
battery holder with
a suitable connector is supplied with the set. It is shown
in the image on the right, where two Varta batteries are
used.
Alternatively, the unit can be powered with a
cylindrical 9V NiCd pack,
of which two are supplied with the unit.
As the cells had already started leaking, we had to
remove them.
As a last resort, another metal cylinder with a small 9V
block battery can be used, but it lasts only a short period
of time.
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© Copyright 2009-2011, Paul Reuvers & Marc Simons. Last changed: Wed,31 Aug 2011.21:01:35
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